Vaccines

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to adjuvant compositions which are suitable to be used in vaccines. In particular, the adjuvant compositions of the present invention comprises a saponin and an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, optionally with a carrier. Also provided by the present invention are vaccines comprising the adjuvants of the present invention and an antigen. Further provided are methods of manufacture of the adjuvants and vaccines of the present invention and their use as medicaments. Methods of treating an individual susceptible to or suffering from a disease by the administration of the vaccines of the present invention are also provided.

The present invention relates to novel adjuvant compositions for use invaccines. In particular, the adjuvant compositions of the presentinvention comprise a combination of a saponin, and an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide, optionally with a lipopolysaccharide. Also provided bythe present invention are vaccines comprising the adjuvant compositionsof the present invention and at least one antigen. Further provided aremethods of manufacture of the adjuvant compositions and vaccines of thepresent invention and their use as medicaments. Additionally, thepresent invention provides methods of treating an individual susceptibleto or suffering from a disease by the parenteral or mucosaladministration of the vaccines of the present invention.

Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides containing unmethylated CpGdinucleotides (“CpG”) and are known in the art as being adjuvants whenadministered by both systemic and mucosal routes (WO 96/02555, EP468520, Davis et al., J. Immunol, 1998, 160(2):870-876; McCluskie andDavis, J. Immunol., 1998, 161 (9):4463-6). CpG is an abbreviation forcytosine-guanosine dinucleotide motifs present in DNA. Historically, itwas observed that the DNA fraction of BCG could exert an anti-tumoureffect. In further studies, synthetic oligonucleotides derived from BCGgene sequences were shown to be capable of inducing immunostimulatoryeffects (both in vitro and in vivo). The authors of these studiesconcluded that certain palindromic sequences, including a central CGmotif, carried this activity. The central role of the CG motif inimmunostimulation was later elucidated in a publication by Krieg, Nature374, p 546 1995. Detailed analysis has shown that the CG motif has to bein a certain sequence context, and that such sequences are common inbacterial DNA but are rare in vertebrate DNA. The immunostimulatorysequence is often: Purine, Purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine; whereinthe dinucleotide CG motif is not methylated, but other unmethylated CpGsequences are known to be immunostimulatory and may be used in thepresent invention.

In certain combinations of the six nucleotides a palindromic sequence ispresent. Several of these motifs, either as repeats of one motif or acombination of different motifs, can be present in the sameoligonucleotide. The presence of one or more of these immunostimulatorysequence containing oligonucleotides can activate various immunesubsets, including natural killer cells (which produce interferon γ andhave cytolytic activity) and macrophages (Wooldrige et al Vol 89 (no.8), 1977). Although other unmethylated CpG containing sequences nothaving this consensus sequence have now been shown to beimmunomodulatory.

CpG when formulated into vaccines, is generally administered in freesolution together with free antigen (WO 96/02555; McCluskie and Davis,supra) or covalently conjugated to an antigen (PCT Publication No. WO98/16247), or formulated with a carrier such as aluminium hydroxide((Hepatitis surface antigen) Davis et al. supra; Brazolot-Millan et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 1998, 95(26), 15553-8).

Saponins are taught in: Lacaille-Dubois, M and Wagner H. (1996. A reviewof the biological and pharmacological activities of saponins.Phytomedicine vol 2 pp 363-386). Saponins are steroid or triterpeneglycosides widely distributed in the plant and marine animal kingdoms.Saponins are noted for forming colloidal solutions in water which foamon shaking, and for precipitating cholesterol. When saponins are nearcell membranes they create pore-like structures in the membrane whichcause the membrane to burst. Haemolysis of erythrocytes is an example ofthis phenomenon, which is a property of certain, but not all, saponins.

Saponins are known as adjuvants in vaccines for systemic administration.The adjuvant and haemolytic activity of individual saponins has beenextensively studied in the art (Lacaille-Dubois and Wagner, supra). Forexample, Quil A (derived from the bark of the South American treeQuillaja Saponaria Molina), and fractions thereof, are described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,057,540 and “Saponins as vaccine adjuvants”, Kensil, C. R.,Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst, 1996, 12 (1-2):1-55; and EP 0 362 279B1.

Particulate structures, termed Immune Stimulating Complexes (ISCOMS),comprising fractions of Quil A are haemolytic and have been used in themanufacture of vaccines (Morein, B., EP 0 109 942 B1). These structureshave been reported to have adjuvant activity (EP 0 109 942 B1; WO96/11711).

The haemolytic saponins QS21 and QS17 (HPLC purified fractions of QuilA) have been described as potent systemic adjuvants, and the method oftheir production is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,540 and EP 0 362279 B1. Also described in these references is the use of QS7 (anon-haemolytic fraction of Quil-A) which acts as a potent adjuvant forsystemic vaccines. Use of QS21 is further described in Kensil et al.(1991. J. Immunology vol 146, 431-437). Combinations of QS21 andpolysorbate or cyclodextrin are also known (WO 99/10008). Particulateadjuvant systems comprising fractions of QuilA, such as QS21 and QS7 aredescribed in WO 96/33739 and WO 96/11711.

Other saponins which have been used in systemic vaccination studiesinclude those derived from other plant species such as Gypsophila andSaponaria (Bomford et al., Vaccine, 10(9):572-577, 1992).

Saponins are also known to have been used in mucosally applied vaccinestudies, which have met with variable success in the induction of immuneresponses. Quil-A saponin has previously been shown to have no effect onthe induction of an immune response when antigen is administeredintranasally (Gizurarson et al. 1994. Vaccine Research 3, 23-29).Whilst, other authors have used this adjuvant with success (Maharaj etal., Can. J. Microbiol, 1986, 32(5):414-20; Chavali and Campbell,Immunobiology, 174(3):347-59). ISCOMs comprising Quil A saponin havebeen used in intragastric and intranasal vaccine formulations andexhibited adjuvant activity (McI Mowat et al., 1991, Immunology, 72,317-322; McI Mowat and Donachie, Immunology Today, 12, 383-385).

QS21, the non-toxic fraction of Quil A, has also been described as anoral or intranasal adjuvant (Sumino et al., J. Virol., 1998,72(6):4931-9; WO 98/56415).

The use of other saponins in intranasal vaccination studies has beendescribed. For example, Chenopodium quinoa saponins has been used inboth intranasal and intragastric vaccines (Estrada et al., Comp.Immunol. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 1998, 21 (3):225-36).

The present invention relates to the surprising finding thatimmunostimulatory oligonucleotides (CpG) and saponin combinations areextremely potent adjuvants. Accordingly, there is provided an adjuvantcomposition comprising a combination of saponin and an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide. Preferably, the adjuvants of the present invention mayfurther comprise a carrier. In a preferred form of the present inventionthe saponin and oligonucleotides in the adjuvant and vaccinecompositions act synergistically in the induction of antigen specificantibody and are potent in the induction of immune responsesconventionally associated with the Th1-type immune system. Accordingly,the adjuvant combinations are not only suitable for immunoprophylaxis ofdiseases, but also surprisingly for immunotherapy of diseases such aspersistent viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, and also chronicdisorders such as cancer.

The preferred oligonucleotides for use in adjuvants or vaccines of thepresent invention preferably contain two or more dinucleotide CpG motifsseparated by at least three, more preferably at least six or morenucleotides. The oligonucleotides of the present invention are typicallydeoxynucleotides. In a preferred embodiment the internucleotide in theoligonucleotide is phosphorodithioate, or more preferably aphosphorothioate bond, although phosphodiester and other internucleotidebonds are within the scope of the invention including oligonucleotideswith mixed internucleotide linkages. Methods for producingphosphorothioate oligonucleotides or phosphorodithioate are described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,666,153, U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,302 and WO95/26204.

Examples of preferred oligonucleotides have the following sequences. Thesequences preferably contain phosphorothioate modified internucleotidelinkages.

OLIGO 1 (SEQ ID NO:1): TCC ATG ACG TTC CTG ACG TT (CpG 1826) OLIGO 2(SEQ ID NO:2): TCT CCC AGC GTG CGC CAT (CpG 1758) OLIGO 3 (SEQ ID NO:3):ACC GAT GAC GTC GCC GGT GAC GGC ACC ACG OLIGO 4 (SEQ ID NO:4): TCG TCGTTT TGT CGT TTT GTC GTT (CpG 2006) OLIGO 5 (SEQ ID NO:5): TCC ATG ACGTTC CTG ATG CT (CpG 1668)

Alternative CpG oligonucleotides may comprise the preferred sequencesabove in that they have inconsequential deletions or additions thereto.

The CpG oligonucleotides utilised in the present invention may besynthesized by any method known in the art (eg EP 468520). Conveniently,such oligonucleotides may be synthesized utilising an automatedsynthesizer.

The oligonucleotides utilised in the present invention are typicallydeoxynucleotides. In a preferred embodiment the internucleotide bond inthe oligonucleotide is phosphorodithioate, or more preferablyphosphorothioate bond, although phosphodiesters are within the scope ofthe present invention. Oligonucleotide comprising differentinternucleotide linkages are contemplated, e.g. mixed phosphorothioatephosphodiesters. Other internucleotide bonds which stabilise theoligonucleotide may be used.

The saponins which may be used in the adjuvant combinations of thepresent invention include those derived from the bark of QuillajaSaponaria Molina, termed Quil A, and fractions thereof, described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,057,540 and “Saponins as vaccine adjuvants”, Kensil, C.R., Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst, 1996, 12 (1-2):1-55; and EP 0 362279 B1. Particularly preferred fractions of Quil A are QS21, QS7, andQS17.

□-Escin is another preferred haemolytic saponins for use in the adjuvantcompositions of the present invention. Escin is described in the Merckindex (12^(th) ed: entry 3737) as a mixture of saponins occurring in theseed of the horse chestnut tree, Lat: Aesculus hippocastanum. Itsisolation is described by chromatography and purification (Fiedler,Arzneimittel-Forsch. 4, 213 (1953)), and by ion-exchange resins (Erbringet al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,190). Fractions of escin, □ and □, have beenpurified and shown to be biologically active (Yoshikawa M, et al. (ChemPharm Bull (Tokyo) 1996 August; 44(8):1454-1464)). □-escin is also knownas aescin.

Another preferred haemolytic saponin for use in the present invention isDigitonin.

Digitonin is described in the Merck index (12^(th) Edition, entry 3204)as a saponin, being derived from the seeds of Digitalis purpurea andpurified according to the procedure described Gisvold et al., J. Am.Pharm. Assoc., 1934, 23, 664; and Ruhenstroth-Bauer, Physiol. Chem.,1955, 301, 621. Its use is described as being a clinical reagent forcholesterol determination.

The adjuvant combinations of the present invention may further comprisea carrier, such that the saponin or CpG, or both, may be associated witha particulate carrier entity to enhance the adjuvanticity of thecombination. Particularly preferred systemic vaccines, for example,comprise a carrier molecule.

The CpG used in the adjuvant combinations of the present invention maybe in free solution or may be complexed to particulate carriers such asmineral salts (for example, but not restricted to, aluminium or calciumsalts), liposomes, ISCOMs, emulsions (oil in water, water in oil, waterin oil in water), polymers (such as, but not restricted to polylactic,polyglycolic, polyphosphazine, polyaminoacid, alginate, chitosan) ormicroparticles. Preferably said carriers are cationic. The vaccines ofthe present invention further comprise an antigen which may beassociated with the CpG-carrier complex, or may not be associated withthe CpG-carrier complex. In this case, the antigen may be freesuspension or associated with a separate carrier.

The saponins forming part of the present invention may be separate inthe form of micelles, or may be in the form of large ordered structuressuch as ISCOMs (EP 0 109 942 B1) or liposomes (WO 96/33739) whenformulated with cholesterol and lipid, or in the form of an oil in wateremulsion (WO 95/17210). The saponins may preferably be associated with ametallic salt, such as aluminium hydroxide or aluminium phosphate (WO98/15287). Alternatively the saponin may be associated with aparticulate carrier such as chitosan. The saponin may also be in a drystate such as a powder. The final formulations in the form as they areadministered to the mucosal surface of the vaccinee are preferablyhaemolytic in nature. The saponin may or may not be associatedphysically with the antigen either through direct linkage or byco-interaction with the same particulate carrier molecule (GB9822712.7;WO 98/16247). The CpG and saponin in the adjuvants or vaccines of thepresent invention may themselves be separate or associated. For example,the CpG and saponin may be in free suspension or may be associated via acarrier, more preferably a particulate carrier such as aluminiumhydroxide or by a cationic liposome or ISCOM.

A preferred adjuvant combination according to the present invention iscomposed of one or more CpG oligonucleotides containing at least 3,preferably at least 6 nucleotides between two adjacent CG motifs,together with QS21 and a particulate carrier selected from the groupcomprising an oil-in-water emulsion or DQ. Most preferably, the adjuvantcombination comprises CpG 2006 (SEQ ID NO: 4), or CpG 1758 (SEQ ID NO:2) or CpG 1826 (SEQ ID NO: 1) mixed with QS21, and a particulate carrierselected from the group comprising an oil-in-water emulsion or DQ.Accordingly, particularly preferred vaccines, for example, comprise suchadjuvant combinations and an antigen. The preferred vaccine of thepresent invention is used to generate systemic immune responses afteradministration to an individual through the systemic route.

The adjuvant combinations of the present invention may be used as bothsystemic or mucosal adjuvant. In a particular form of the inventionthere is provided a systemic vaccine to be administered through thesystemic or parenteral route such as intramuscular, intradermal,transdermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intravenousadministration. A preferred route of administration is via thetransdermal route, for example by skin patches.

The systemic vaccine preparations of the present invention may be usedto protect or treat a mammal susceptible to, or suffering from disease,by means of administering said vaccine by intramuscular,intraperitoneal, intradermal, transdermal, intravenous, or subcutaneousadministration. Methods of systemic administration of the vaccinepreparations may include conventional syringes and needles, or devicesdesigned for ballistic delivery of solid vaccines (WO 99/27961), orneedleless pressure liquid jet device (U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,556; U.S.Pat. No. 5,993,412), or transdermal patches (WO 97/48440; WO 98/28037).The present invention may also be used to enhance the immunogenicity ofantigens applied to the skin (transdermal or transcutaneous delivery WO98/20734 WO 98/28037). The present invention therefore provides adelivery device for systemic administration, pre-filled with the vaccineor adjuvant compositions of the present invention. Accordingly there isprovided a method for inducing an immune response in an individual,comprising the administration of a vaccine comprising an antigen andimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide, a saponin, and a carrier, to theindividual, wherein the vaccine is administered via the parenteral orsystemic route. Preferred methods of inducing an immune responsecomprises the administration of a vaccine comprising an oligonucleotideof SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, with a saponin derived from QuilA, suchas QS21, and a carrier, such as an oil in water emulsion, a cholesterolcontaining liposome or alum.

Alternatively the vaccine preparations of the present invention may beused to protect or treat a mammal susceptible to, or suffering fromdisease, by means of administering said vaccine via a mucosal route,such as the oral/alimentary or nasal route. Alternative mucosal routesare intravaginal and intra-rectal. The preferred mucosal route ofadministration is via the nasal route, termed intranasal vaccination.Methods of intranasal vaccination are well known in the art, includingthe administration of a droplet, spray, or dry powdered form of thevaccine into the nasopharynx of the individual to be immunised.Nebulised or aerosolised vaccine formulations also form part of thisinvention. Enteric formulations such as gastro resistant capsules andgranules for oral administration, suppositories for rectal or vaginaladministration also form part of this invention.

The adjuvant combinations of the present invention, represent a class ofmucosal adjuvants suitable for application in humans to replace systemicvaccination by mucosal vaccination. In a preferred form of the presentinvention pure saponins such as Quil A, or derivatives thereof,including QS21; Escin; Digitonin; or Gypsophila or Chenopodium quinoasaponins in combination with immunostimulatory oligonucleotides may beused as adjuvants for the mucosal administration of antigens to achievea systemic immune response.

The adjuvant combinations of the present invention are used in theformulation of vaccines, which vaccines may be administered via thesystemic or mucosal route. Preferably, when the vaccines are used formucosal administration the adjuvant combination comprises a haemolyticsaponin.

For mucosal administration preferably the composition of the inventioncomprise a haemolytic saponin. Haemolytic saponin, or saponinpreparation, within the meaning of this invention is to be determinedwith reference to the following assay.

1. Fresh blood from guinea pigs is washed with phosphate buffered saline(PBS) 3 times in a desk-top centrifuge. After resuspension to theoriginal volume the blood is further diluted 10 fold in PBS.

2. 50 μl of this blood suspension is added to 800 μl of PBS containingtwo-fold dilutions of surfactant or saponin.

3. After 8 hours the haemolysis is assessed visually or by measuring theoptical density of the supernatant. The presence of a red supernatant,which absorbs light at 570 nm indicates the presence of haemolysis.

4. The results are expressed as the concentration of the first saponindilution at which hemolysis no longer occurs.

For the purposes of this invention the saponin adjuvant preparation ishaemolytic if it lyses the erythrocytes at a concentration of less than0.1%. As means of reference, substantially pure samples of QuilA, QS21,QS7, Digitonin, and β-escin are all haemolytic saponins as defined inthis assay. Within the inherent experimental variability of such abiological assay, the saponins of the present invention preferably havea haemolytic activity, of approximately between 0.5-0.00001%, morepreferably between 0.05-0.00001%, even more preferably between0.005-0.00001%, and most preferably between 0.001-0.0004%. Ideally, saidsaponins should have a haemolytic activity similar (i.e. within aten-fold difference) to that of QS21.

The vaccines of the present invention may also be administered via theoral route. In such cases the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient mayalso include alkaline buffers, or enteric capsules or microgranules. Thevaccines of the present invention may also be administered by thevaginal route. In such cases, the pharmaceutically acceptable excipientsmay also include emulsifiers, polymers such as CARBOPOL®, and otherknown stabilisers of vaginal creams and suppositories. The vaccines ofthe present invention may also be administered by the rectal route. Insuch cases the excipients may also include waxes and polymers known inthe art for forming rectal suppositories.

Preparations of more than one saponin in the adjuvant combinations ofthe present invention are also form part of the present invention. Forexample combinations of at least two of the following group comprisingQS21, QS7, Quil A, β-escin, or digitonin. Additionally, the compositionsof the present invention may comprise combinations of more than oneimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide.

In a similar embodiment of the present invention the CpG/saponincombinations for both systemic and mucosal administration may be furthercombined with other adjuvants including lipopolysaccharide or aderivative thereof.

The adjuvant combinations of the present invention include in anembodiment, at least enterobacterial lipopolysaccharide derivedadjuvant.

It has long been known that enterobacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isa potent stimulator of the immune system, although its use in adjuvantshas been curtailed by its toxic effects. A non-toxic derivative of LPS,monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), produced by removal of the corecarbohydrate group and the phosphate from the reducing-end glucosamine,has been described by Ribi et al (1986, Immunology andImmunopharmacology of bacterial endotoxins, Plenum Publ. Corp., NY, p407-419) and has the following structure:

A further detoxified version of MPL results from the removal of the acylchain from the 3-position of the disaccharide backbone, and is called3-O-Deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MPL). It can be purified andprepared by the methods taught in GB 2122204B, which reference alsodiscloses the preparation of diphosphoryl lipid A, and 3-O-deacylatedvariants thereof. A preferred form of 3D-MPL is in the form of anemulsion having a small particle size less than 0.2 μm in diameter, andits method of manufacture is disclosed in WO 94/21292. Aqueousformulations comprising monophosphoryl lipid A and a surfactant havebeen described in WO9843670A2.

The bacterial lipopolysaccharide derived adjuvants to be formulated inthe adjuvant combinations of the present invention may be purified andprocessed from bacterial sources, or alternatively they may besynthetic. For example, purified monophosphoryl lipid A is described inRibi et al 1986 (supra), and 3-O-Deacylated monophosphoryl ordiphosphoryl lipid A derived from Salmonella sp. is described in GB2220211 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,094. Other purified and syntheticlipopolysaccharides have been described (WO 98/01139; U.S. Pat. No.6,005,099 and EP 0 729 473 B1; Hilgers et al., 1986, Int. Arch. Allergy.Immunol., 79(4):392-6; Hilgers et al., 1987, Immunology, 60(1):141-6;and EP 0 549 074 B1). Particularly preferred bacteriallipopolysaccharide adjuvants are 3D-MPL and the β(1-6) glucosaminedisaccharides described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,099 and EP 0 729 473 B1.

Accordingly, the LPS derivatives that may be used in the presentinvention are those immunostimulants that are similar in structure tothat of LPS or MPL or 3D-MPL. In another aspect of the present inventionthe LPS derivatives may be an acylated monosaccharide, which is asub-portion to the above structure of MPL.

A preferred disaccharide adjuvant is a purified or synthetic lipid A ofthe following formula:

wherein R2 may be H or PO3H2; R3 may be an acyl chain orβ-hydroxymyristoyl or a 3-acyloxyacyl residue having the formula:

Combinations of 3D-MPL and saponin adjuvants derived from the bark ofQuillaja Saponaria molina have been described in EP 0 761 231B. WO95/17210 discloses an adjuvant emulsion system based on squalene,α-tocopherol, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (TWEEN80),formulated with the immunostimulant QS21, optionally with 3D-MPL.

Alternatively the saponin formulations may be combined with vaccinevehicles composed of chitosan or other polycationic polymers,polylactide and polylactide-co-glycolide particles, poly-N-acetylglucosamine-based polymer matrix, particles composed of polysaccharidesor chemically modified polysaccharides, liposomes and lipid-basedparticles, particles composed of glycerol monoesters, etc. The saponinsmay also be formulated in the presence of cholesterol to formparticulate structures such as liposomes or ISCOMs. Furthermore, thesaponins may be formulated together with a polyoxyethylene ether orester, in either a non-particulate solution or suspension, or in aparticulate structure such as a paucilamelar liposome or ISCOM. Thesaponins may also be formulated with excipients such as Carbopol® toincrease viscosity, or may be formulated in a dry powder form with apowder excipient such as lactose.

The adjuvant combinations of the present invention can comprise an oilbased emulsion. Oil emulsion adjuvants have been known for many years,including work on Freunds complete and incomplete mineral oil emulsionadjuvants. Since that time much work has been performed to design stableand well tolerated alternatives to these potent, but reactogenic,adjuvant formulations.

Many single or multiphase emulsion systems have been described. Oil inwater emulsion adjuvants per se have been suggested to be useful asadjuvant compositions (EP O 399 843B), also combinations of oil in wateremulsions and other active agents have been described as adjuvants forvaccines (WO 95/17210; WO 98/56414; WO 99/12565; WO 99/11241). Other oilemulsion adjuvants have been described, such as water in oil emulsions(U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,109; EP 0 480 982 B2) and water in oil in wateremulsions (U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,067, EP 0 480 981 B).

The oil emulsion adjuvants for use in the present invention may benatural or synthetic, and may be mineral or organic. Examples of mineraland organic oils will be readily apparent to the man skilled in the art.

In order for any oil in water composition to be suitable for humanadministration, the oil phase of the emulsion system preferablycomprises a metabolisable oil. The meaning of the term metabolisable oilis well known in the art. Metabolisable can be defined as “being capableof being transformed by metabolism” (Dorland's Illustrated MedicalDictionary, W.B. Sanders Company, 25th edition (1974)). The oil may beany vegetable oil, fish oil, animal oil or synthetic oil, which is nottoxic to the recipient and is capable of being transformed bymetabolism. Nuts (such as peanut oil), seeds, and grains are commonsources of vegetable oils. Synthetic oils are also part of thisinvention and can include commercially available oils such as NEOBEE®and others. Squalene(2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene) is anunsaturated oil which is found in large quantities in shark-liver oil,and in lower quantities in olive oil, wheat germ oil, rice bran oil, andyeast, and is a particularly preferred oil for use in this invention.Squalene is a metabolisable oil virtue of the fact that it is anintermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol (Merck index, 10thEdition, entry no. 8619).

Particularly preferred oil emulsions are oil in water emulsions, and inparticular squalene in water emulsions.

In addition, the most preferred oil emulsion adjuvants of the presentinvention comprise an antioxidant, which is preferably the oilα-tocopherol (vitamin E, EP 0 382 271 B1).

WO 95/17210 and WO 99/11241 disclose emulsion adjuvants based onsqualene, α-tocopherol, and TWEEN 80, optionally formulated with theimmunostimulants QS21 and/or 3D-MPL. WO 99/12565 discloses animprovement to these squalene emulsions with the addition of a sterolinto the oil phase. Additionally, a triglyceride, such as tricaprylin(C27H50O6), may be added to the oil phase in order to stabilise theemulsion (WO 98/56414).

The size of the oil droplets found within the stable oil in wateremulsion are preferably less than 1 micron, may be in the range ofsubstantially 30-600 nm, preferably substantially around 30-500 nm indiameter, and most preferably substantially 150-500 nm in diameter, andin particular about 150 nm in diameter as measured by photon correlationspectroscopy. In this regard, 80% of the oil droplets by number shouldbe within the preferred ranges, more preferably more than 90% and mostpreferably more than 95% of the oil droplets by number are within thedefined size ranges. The amounts of the components present in the oilemulsions of the present invention are conventionally in the range offrom 2 to 10% oil, such as squalene; and when present, from 2 to 10%alpha tocopherol; and from 0.3 to 3% surfactant, such as polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate. Preferably the ratio of oil:alpha tocopherol isequal or less than 1 as this provides a more stable emulsion. Span 85may also be present at a level of about 1%. In some cases it may beadvantageous that the vaccines of the present invention will furthercontain a stabiliser.

The method of producing oil in water emulsions is well known to the manskilled in the art. Commonly, the method comprises the mixing the oilphase with a surfactant such as a PBS/TWEEN80™ solution, followed byhomogenisation using a homogenizer, it would be clear to a man skilledin the art that a method comprising passing the mixture twice through asyringe needle would be suitable for homogenising small volumes ofliquid. Equally, the emulsification process in microfluidiser (M110Smicrofluidics machine, maximum of 50 passes, for a period of 2 minutesat maximum pressure input of 6 bar (output pressure of about 850 bar))could be adapted by the man skilled in the art to produce smaller orlarger volumes of emulsion. This adaptation could be achieved by routineexperimentation comprising the measurement of the resultant emulsionuntil a preparation was achieved with oil droplets of the requireddiameter.

Preferably the vaccine formulations of the present invention contain anantigen or antigenic composition capable of eliciting an immune responseagainst a human pathogen, which antigen or antigenic composition isderived from HIV-1, (such as tat, nef, gp120 or gp 160), human herpesviruses, such as gD or derivatives thereof or Immediate Early proteinsuch as ICP27 from HSV1 or HSV2, cytomegalovirus ((esp Human) (such asgB or derivatives thereof), Rotavirus (including live-attenuatedviruses), Epstein Barr virus (such as gp350 or derivatives thereof),Varicella Zoster Virus (such as gpI, II and IE63), or from a hepatitisvirus such as hepatitis B virus (for example Hepatitis B Surface antigenor a derivative thereof), hepatitis A virus, hepatitis C virus andhepatitis E virus, or from other viral pathogens, such asparamyxoviruses: Respiratory Syncytial virus (such as F and G proteinsor derivatives thereof), parainfluenza virus, measles virus, mumpsvirus, human papilloma viruses (for example HPV6, 11, 16, 18, . . . ),flaviviruses (e.g. Yellow Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, Tick-borneencephalitis virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus) or Influenza virus(whole live or inactivated virus, split influenza virus, grown in eggsor MDCK cells, or whole flu virosomes (as described by R. Gluck,Vaccine, 1992, 10, 915-920) or purified or recombinant proteins thereof,such as HA, NP, NA, or M proteins, or combinations thereof), or derivedfrom bacterial pathogens such as Neisseria spp, including N. gonorrheaand N. meningitidis (for example capsular polysaccharides and conjugatesthereof, transferrin-binding proteins, lactoferrin binding proteins,PilC, adhesins); S. pyogenes (for example M proteins or fragmentsthereof, C5A protease, lipoteichoic acids), S. agalactiae, S. mutans; H.ducreyi; Moraxella spp, including M catarrhalis, also known asBranhamella catarrhalis (for example high and low molecular weightadhesins and invasins); Bordetella spp, including B. pertussis (forexample pertactin, pertussis toxin or derivatives thereof, filamenteoushemagglutinin, adenylate cyclase, fimbriae), B. parapertussis and B.bronchiseptica; Mycobacterium spp., including M. tuberculosis (forexample ESAT6, Antigen 85A, -B or -C), M. bovis, M. leprae, M. avium, M.paratuberculosis, M. smegmatis; Legionella spp, including L.pneumophila; Escherichia spp, including enterotoxic E. coli (for examplecolonization factors, heat-labile toxin or derivatives thereof,heat-stable toxin or derivatives thereof), enterohemorragic E. coli,enteropathogenic E. coli (for example shiga toxin-like toxin orderivatives thereof); Vibrio spp, including V. cholera (for examplecholera toxin or derivatives thereof); Shigella spp, including S.sonnei, S. dysenteriae, S. flexnerii; Yersinia spp, including Y.enterocolitica (for example a Yop protein), Y. pestis, Y.pseudotuberculosis; Campylobacter spp, including C. jejuni (for exampletoxins, adhesins and invasins) and C. coli; Salmonella spp, including S.typhi, S. paratyphi, S. choleraesuis, S. enteritidis; Listeria spp.,including L. monocytogenes; Helicobacter spp, including H. pylori (forexample urease, catalase, vacuolating toxin); Pseudomonas spp, includingP. aeruginosa; Staphylococcus spp., including S. aureus, S. epidermidis;Enterococcus spp., including E. faecalis, E. faecium; Clostridium spp.,including C. tetani (for example tetanus toxin and derivative thereof),C. botulinum (for example botulinum toxin and derivative thereof), C.difficile (for example clostridium toxins A or B and derivativesthereof); Bacillus spp., including B. anthracis (for example botulinumtoxin and derivatives thereof); Corynebacterium spp., including C.diphtheriae (for example diphtheria toxin and derivatives thereof);Borrelia spp., including B. burgdorferi (for example OspA, OspC, DbpA,DbpB), B. garinii (for example OspA, OspC, DbpA, DbpB), B. afzelii (forexample OspA, OspC, DbpA, DbpB), B. andersonii (for example OspA, OspC,DbpA, DbpB), B. hermsii; Ehrlichia spp., including E. equi and the agentof the Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis; Rickettsia spp, including R.rickettsii; Chlamydia spp., including C. trachomatis (for example MOMP,heparin-binding proteins), C. pneumoniae (for example MOMP,heparin-binding proteins), C. psittaci; Leptospira spp., including L.interrogans; Treponema spp., including T. pallidum (for example the rareouter membrane proteins), T. denticola, T. hyodysenteriae; or derivedfrom parasites such as Plasmodium spp., including P. falciparum;Toxoplasma spp., including T. gondii (for example SAG2, SAG3, Tg34);Entamoeba spp., including E. histolytica; Babesia spp., including B.microti; Trypanosoma spp., including T. cruzi; Giardia spp., includingG. lamblia; Leshmania spp., including L. major; Pneumocystis spp.,including P. carinii; Trichomonas spp., including T. vaginalis;Schisostoma spp., including S. mansoni, or derived from yeast such asCandida spp., including C. albicans; Cryptococcus spp., including C.neoformans.

Other preferred specific antigens for M. tuberculosis are for example TbRa12, Tb H9, Tb Ra35, Tb38-1, Erd 14, DPV, MTI, MSL, mTTC2 and hTCC1 (WO99/51748). Proteins for M. tuberculosis also include fusion proteins andvariants thereof where at least two, preferably three polypeptides of M.tuberculosis are fused into a larger protein. Preferred fusions includeRa12-TbH9-Ra35, Erd14-DPV-MTI, DPV-MTI-MSL, Erd14-DPV-MTI-MSL-mTCC2,Erd14-DPV-MTI-MSL, DPV-MTI-MSL-mTCC2, TbH9-DPV-MTI (WO 99/51748).

Most preferred antigens for Chlamydia include for example the HighMolecular Weight Protein (HWMP) (WO 99/17741), ORF3 (EP 366 412), andputative membrane proteins (Pmps). Other Chlamydia antigens of thevaccine formulation can be selected from the group described in WO99/28475.

Preferred bacterial vaccines comprise antigens derived fromStreptococcus spp, including S. pneumoniae (for example capsularpolysaccharides and conjugates thereof, PsaA, PspA, streptolysin,choline-binding proteins) and the protein antigen Pneumolysin (BiochemBiophys Acta, 1989, 67, 1007; Rubins et al., Microbial Pathogenesis, 25,337-342), and mutant detoxified derivatives thereof (WO 90/06951; WO99/03884). Other preferred bacterial vaccines comprise antigens derivedfrom Haemophilus spp., including H. influenzae type B (for example PRPand conjugates thereof), non typeable H. influenzae, for example OMP26,high molecular weight adhesins, P5, P6, protein D and lipoprotein D, andfimbrin and fimbrin derived peptides (U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,464) ormultiple copy varients or fusion proteins thereof.

Derivatives of Hepatitis B Surface antigen are well known in the art andinclude, inter alia, those PreS1, PreS2 S antigens set forth describedin European Patent applications EP-A-414 374; EP-A-0304 578, and EP198-474. In one preferred aspect the vaccine formulation of theinvention comprises the HIV-1 antigen, gp120, especially when expressedin CHO cells. In a further embodiment, the vaccine formulation of theinvention comprises gD2t as hereinabove defined.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention vaccines containingthe claimed adjuvant comprise antigen derived from the Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) considered to be responsible for genital warts (HPV 6 or HPV11 and others), and the HPV viruses responsible for cervical cancer(HPV16, HPV18 and others).

Particularly preferred forms of genital wart prophylactic, ortherapeutic, vaccine comprise L1 particles or capsomers, and fusionproteins comprising one or more antigens selected from the HPV 6 and HPVII proteins E6, E7, L1, and L2.

The most preferred forms of fusion protein are: L2E7 as disclosed in WO96/26277, and proteinD(1/3)-E7 disclosed in GB 9717953.5(PCT/EP98/05285).

A preferred HPV cervical infection or cancer, prophylaxis or therapeuticvaccine, composition may comprise HPV 16 or 18 antigens. For example, L1or L2 antigen monomers, or L1 or L2 antigens presented together as avirus like particle (VLP) or the L1 alone protein presented alone in aVLP or caposmer structure. Such antigens, virus like particles andcapsomer are per se known. See for example WO94/00152, WO94/20137,WO94/05792, and WO93/02184.

Additional early proteins may be included alone or as fusion proteinssuch as E7, E2 or preferably E5 for example; particularly preferredembodiments of this includes a VLP comprising L1E7 fusion proteins (WO96/11272).

Particularly preferred HPV 16 antigens comprise the early proteins E6 orE7 in fusion with a protein D carrier to form Protein D-E6 or E7 fusionsfrom HPV 16, or combinations thereof; or combinations of E6 or E7 withL2 (WO 96/26277).

Alternatively the HPV 16 or 18 early proteins E6 and E7, may bepresented in a single molecule, preferably a Protein D-E6/E7 fusion.Such vaccine may optionally contain either or both E6 and E7 proteinsfrom HPV 18, preferably in the form of a Protein D-E6 or Protein D-E7fusion protein or Protein D E6/E7 fusion protein.

The vaccine of the present invention may additionally comprise antigensfrom other HPV strains, preferably from strains HPV 31 or 33.

Vaccines of the present invention further comprise antigens derived fromparasites that cause Malaria. For example, preferred antigens fromPlasmodia falciparum include RTS,S and TRAP. RTS is a hybrid proteincomprising substantially all the C-terminal portion of thecircumsporozoite (CS) protein of P. falciparum linked via four aminoacids of the preS2 portion of Hepatitis B surface antigen to the surface(S) antigen of hepatitis B virus. It's full structure is disclosed inthe International Patent Application No. PCT/EP92/02591, published underNumber WO 93/10152 claiming priority from UK patent application No.9124390.7. When expressed in yeast RTS is produced as a lipoproteinparticle, and when it is co-expressed with the S antigen from HBV itproduces a mixed particle known as RTS,S. TRAP antigens are described inthe International Patent Application No. PCT/GB89/00895, published underWO 90/01496. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is aMalaria vaccine wherein the antigenic preparation comprises acombination of the RTS,S and TRAP antigens. Other plasmodia antigensthat are likely candidates to be components of a multistage Malariavaccine are P. faciparum MSP1, AMA1, MSP3, EBA, GLURP, RAP1, RAP2,Sequestrin, PFEMP1, Pf332, LSA1, LSA3, STARP, SALSA, PfEXP1, Pfs25,Pfs28, PFS27/25, Pfs16, Pfs48/45, Pfs230 and their analogues inPlasmodium spp.

The formulations may also contain an anti-tumour antigen and be usefulfor the immunotherapeutic treatment of cancers. The formulations mayalso contain an anti-tumour antigen and be useful for theimmunotherapeutic treatment of cancers. For example, the adjuvantformulation finds utility with tumour rejection antigens such as thosefor prostrate, breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, renal or melanomacancers. Exemplary antigens include MAGE 1, 3 and MAGE 4 or other MAGEantigens such as disclosed in WO99/40188, PRAME, BAGE, Lage (also knownas NY Eos 1) SAGE and HAGE (WO 99/53061) or GAGE (Robbins and Kawakami,1996, Current Opinions in Immunology 8, pps 628-636; Van den Eynde etal., International Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Research (submitted1997); Correale et al. (1997), Journal of the National Cancer Institute89, p 293. Indeed these antigens are expressed in a wide range of tumourtypes such as melanoma, lung carcinoma, sarcoma and bladder carcinoma.

MAGE antigens for use in the present invention may be expressed as afusion protein with an expression enhancer or an Immunological fusionpartner. In one embodiment of the present invention, the derivative is afusion proteins comprising an antigen from the MAGE protein familylinked to a heterologous partner. For example MAGE 3. The proteins maybe chemically conjugated, but are preferably expressed as recombinantfusion proteins allowing increased levels to be produced in anexpression system as compared to non-fused protein. Thus the fusionpartner may assist in providing T helper epitopes (immunological fusionpartner), preferably T helper epitopes recognised by humans, or assistin expressing the protein (expression enhancer) at higher yields thanthe native recombinant protein. Preferably the fusion partner will beboth an immunological fusion partner and expression enhancing partner.

In a preferred form of the invention, the immunological fusion partneris derived from protein D, a surface protein of the gram-negativebacterium, Haemophilus influenza B (WO91/18926). Preferably the proteinD derivative comprises approximately the first ⅓ of the protein, inparticular approximately the first N-terminal 100-110 amino acids.Preferably the protein D derivative is lipidated. Preferably the first109 residues of the Lipoprotein D fusion partner is included on theN-terminus to provide the vaccine candidate antigen with additionalexogenous T-cell epitopes and increase expression level in E-coli (thusacting also as an expression enhancer). The lipid tail ensures optimalpresentation of the antigen to antigen presenting cells.

Other fusion partners include the non-structural protein from influenzaevirus, NS1 (hemagglutinin). Typically the N terminal 81 amino acids areutilised, although different fragments may be used provided they includeT-helper epitopes.

In another embodiment the immunological fusion partner is the proteinknown as LYTA. Preferably the C terminal portion of the molecule isused. Lyta is derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae which synthesize anN-acetyl-L-alanine amidase, amidase LYTA, (coded by the lytA gene {Gene,43 (1986) page 265-272} an autolysin that specifically degrades certainbonds in the peptidoglycan backbone. The C-terminal domain of the LYTAprotein is responsible for the affinity to the choline or to somecholine analogues such as DEAE. This property has been exploited for thedevelopment of E. coli C-LYTA expressing plasmids useful for expressionof fusion proteins. Purification of hybrid proteins containing theC-LYTA fragment at its amino terminus has been described {Biotechnology:10, (1992) page 795-798}. As used herein a preferred embodiment utilisesthe repeat portion of the Lyta molecule found in the C terminal endstarting at residue 178. A particularly preferred form incorporatesresidues 188-305.

The immunological fusion partners noted above are also advantageous inaiding expression. In particular, such fusions are expressed at higheryields than native recombinant MAGE proteins. Such constructs aredisclosed in Wo99/40188.

Other tumour-specific antigens are suitable for use with the adjuvantsof the present invention and include, but are not restricted totumour-specific gangliosides such as GM 2, and GM3 or conjugates thereofto carrier proteins; or said antigen may be a self peptide hormone suchas whole length Gonadotrophin hormone releasing hormone (GnRH, WO95/20600), a short 10 amino acid long peptide, useful in the treatmentof many cancers, or in immunocastration.

In a preferred embodiment prostate antigens are utilised, such asProstate specific antigen (PSA), PAP, PSCA (PNAS 95(4) 1735-1740 1998),PSMA or, in a preferred embodiment an antigen known as Prostase.

Prostase is a prostate-specific serine protease (trypsin-like), 254amino acid-long, with a conserved serine protease catalytic triad H-D-Sand a amino-terminal pre-propeptide sequence, indicating a potentialsecretory function (P. Nelson, Lu Gan, C. Ferguson, P. Moss, R. Gelinas,L. Hood & K. Wand, “Molecular cloning and characterisation of prostase,an androgen-regulated serine protease with prostate restrictedexpression, In Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1999) 96, 3114-3119). Aputative glycosylation site has been described. The predicted structureis very similar to other known serine proteases, showing that the maturepolypeptide folds into a single domain. The mature protein is 224 aminoacids-long, with one A2 epitope shown to be naturally processed.

Prostase nucleotide sequence and deduced polypeptide sequence andhomologs are disclosed in Ferguson, et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA1999, 96, 3114-3119) and in International Patent Applications No. WO98/12302 (and also the corresponding granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,306),WO 98/20117 (and also the corresponding granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,871and U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,148) (prostate-specific kallikrein) and WO00/04149 (P703P).

The present invention provides formulations comprising prostase proteinfusions based on prostase protein and fragments and homologues thereof(“derivatives”). Such derivatives are suitable for use in therapeuticvaccine formulations which are suitable for the treatment of a prostatetumours. Typically the fragment will contain at least 20, preferably 50,more preferably 100 contiguous amino acids as disclosed in the abovereferenced patent and patent applications. In one embodiment there isprovided a mutated prostase antigen wherein the mutation occurs in theactive site of the protein. The prostase antigen derivative or fragmentsand homologues thereof carry a mutation in the active site of theprotein, to reduce substantially or preferably eliminate its proteasebiological activity. Preferred mutations involve replacing the Histidineand Aspartate catalytic residues of the serine protease. In a preferredembodiment, prostase contains a Histidine-Alanine mutation in the activesite, for example at residue 71 of prostase sequence (Ferguson, et al.(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1999, 96, 3114-3119). Corresponding mutationin homologous proteins are expressly contemplated. For example thismutation corresponds to position 43 in P703P. This mutation can lead toa significant decrease in the catalytic efficiency (expressed inenzymatic specific activity) of the protein. Preferably the reduction inthe catalytic efficiency is at least by a factor of 10³, more preferablyat least by a factor of 10⁶. The protein which has undergone a histidinealanine mutation is hereafter referred to as * (star).

In one embodiment, the Prostase either mutated or non mutated is part ofa fusion protein, comprising the tumour-associated prostase or fragmentor homologues thereof and a heterologous protein or part of a proteinacting as a fusion partner. The protein and the fusion partner may bechemically conjugated, but are preferably expressed as recombinantfusion proteins in a heterologous expression system.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a prostasefusion protein or fragment or homologues thereof linked to animmunological fusion partner that may assist in providing T helperepitopes. Thus the fusion partner may act through a bystander helpereffect linked to secretion of activation signals by a large number of Tcells specific to the foreign protein or peptide, thereby enhancing theinduction of immunity to the prostase component as compared to thenon-fused protein. Preferably the heterologous partner is selected to berecognizable by T cells in a majority of humans.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a prostase protein orfragment or homologues thereof linked to a fusion partner that acts asan expression enhancer. Thus the fusion partner may assist in aiding inthe expression of prostase in a heterologous system, allowing increasedlevels to be produced in an expression system as compared to the nativerecombinant protein.

Preferably the fusion partner will be both an immunological fusionpartner and an expression enhancer partner. Accordingly, the presentinvention provides fusion proteins comprising a mutated tumour-specificprostase or a fragment thereof linked to a fusion partner. Preferablythe fusion partner is acting both as an immunological fusion partner andas an expression enhancer partner. Accordingly, in a preferred form ofthe invention, the fusion partner is the non-structural protein frominfluenzae virus, NS1 (hemagglutinin) or fragment thereof. Typically theN-terminal 81 amino acids are utilised, although different fragments maybe used provided they include T-helper epitopes (C. Hackett, D.Horowitz, M. Wysocka & S. Dillon, 1992, J. Gen. Virology, 73,1339-1343). When NS1 is the immunological fusion partner it has theadditional advantage in that it allows higher expression yields to beachieved. In particular, such fusions are expressed at higher yieldsthan the native recombinant prostase proteins.

In a most preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises theN-terminal 81 amino acids of NS1 non structural protein fused to the 5to 226 carboxy-terminal amino acids of P703P.

A further preferred prostate antigen is known as P501S, sequence ID no113 of Wo98/37814. Immunogenic fragments and portions thereof comprisingat least 20, preferably 50, more preferably 100 contiguous amino acidsas disclosed in the above referenced patent application. See for examplePS108 (WO 98/50567).

Other prostate specific antigens are known from Wo98/37418, andWO/004149. Another is STEAP PNAS 96 14523 14528 7-12 1999.

Other tumour associated antigens useful in the context of the presentinvention include: Plu-1 J Biol. Chem 274 (22) 15633-15645, 1999,HASH-1, HasH-2, Cripto (Salomon et al Bioessays 199, 21 61-70,U.S. Pat.No. 5,654,140) Criptin U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,215. Additionally, antigensparticularly relevant for vaccines in the therapy of cancer alsocomprise tyrosinase and survivin.

Mucin derived peptides such as Muc1 see for example U.S. Pat. No.5,744,144 U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,666 WO 8805054, U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,484.Specifically contemplated are Muc 1 derived peptides that comprise atleast one repeat unit of the Muc 1 peptide, preferably at least two suchrepeats and which is recognised by the SM3 antibody (U.S. Pat. No.6,054,438). Other mucin derived peptides include peptide from Muc 5.

The present invention is also useful in combination with breast cancerantigens such as her 2/Neu, mammaglobin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,267) orthose disclosed in WO/00 52165, WO99/33869, WO99/19479, WO 98/45328. Her2 neu antigens are disclosed inter alia, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,005.Preferably the Her 2 neu comprises the entire extracellular domain(comprising approximately amino acid 1-645) or fragments thereof and atleast an immunogenic portion of or the entire intracellular domainapproximately the C terminal 580 amino acids. In particular, theintracellular portion should comprise the phosphorylation domain orfragments thereof. Such constructs are disclosed in WO00/44899. Aparticularly preferred construct is known as ECD PD a second is known asECD ΔPD See Wo/00/44899.

The her 2 neu as used herein can be derived from rat, mouse or human.

The Her2-neu antigen may be the entire Her2-neu antigen or portionsthereof. Preferred portions comprises the extracellular domain. In amore preferred embodiment there is provided an fusion protein comprisingan extracellular domain linked to a portion of the intracellular domainas disclosed in WO 00/44899.

The present invention is directed to formulations capable of modulating,preferably eliciting or enhancing, immunity to the protein product ofHER-2/neu oncogene expression, including for malignancies in awarm-blooded animal where an amplified HER-2/neu gene with a malignancydoes not require that the protein expression product of the gene bepresent on the tumour. For example, overexpression of the gene may beinvolved with initiation and early stages of tumour formation, but theprotein expression may subsequently be reduced or absent. The presentinvention may be used to elicit or enhance an effective immune responseto convert a HER-2/neu positive tumour to HER-2/neu negative, inaddition to preventing the establishment of HER-2/neu positive tumoursand provoking the regression of existing HER-2/neu positive tumours.

The following abbreviations are used throughout the specification: “ECD”refers to the extracellular domain, “ICD” refers to the intracellulardomain, “PD” refers to the phosphorylation domain (ie, the domain thatis phosphorylated) that is within the intracellular domain, “ΔPD” refersto a fragment of the phosphorylation domain that is within thephosphorylation domain, and “KD” refers to the kinase domain that iswithin the intracellular domain. The product of expression of theHER-2/neu gene is referred to herein as the “HER-2/neu protein,” alsoknown and referred to as “p185” or “c-erbB2”.

The “HER-2/neu ECD-ICD fusion protein,” also referred to herein as“ECD-ICD” or “ECD-ICD fusion protein,” refers to a fusion protein (orfragments thereof) comprising the extracellular domain (or fragmentsthereof) and the intracellular domain (or fragments thereof) of theHER-2/neu protein. These represent preferred antigens to utilise in thecontext of the present invention. As used herein, the ECD-ICD fusionprotein does not include a substantial portion of the HER-2/neutransmembrane domain, and preferably does not include any of theHER-2/neu transmembrane domain.

The “HER-2/neu ECD-PD fusion protein,” also referred to as “ECD-PD” or“ECD-PD fusion protein,” or the “HER-2/neu ECD-ΔPD fusion protein,” alsoreferred to as “ECD-ΔPD” or ECD-ΔPD fusion protein,” refer to fusionproteins (or fragments thereof) comprising the extracellular domain (orfragments thereof) and phosphorylation domain (or fragments thereof, eg,ΔPD) of the HER-2/neu protein. The ECD-PD and ECD-ΔPD fusion proteins donot include a substantial portion of the HER-2/neu transmembrane domain,and preferably do not include any of the HER-2/neu transmembrane domain.

The terms “HER-2/neu ECD-ICD fusion protein” and “HER-2/neu ECD-PDfusion protein” and their related terms are also understood to refer tofragments thereof, homologs therefore and functional equivalents thereof(collectively referred to as “variants”), such as those in which one ormore amino acids which, in preferred embodiments of the invention,either (i) increase the elicitation or enhancement of an immune responseas compared to the HER-2/neu protein, or (ii) do not substantiallyaffect elicitation or enhancement of an immune response as compared tothe HER-2/neu protein (eg variant stimulates a response by helper Tcells or cytotoxic T cells or stimulates the production of antibodies).Specific, non-limiting, examples of variants including exemplaryfragments, homologs and functional equivalents of the HER-2/neu ECD-ICDfusion protein and HER-2/neu ECD-PD fusion protein are described in moredetail herein. Variants can be “substantially identical” or“substantially similar” to a fusion protein comprising nativepolypeptide components, and retain the ability to stimulate an immuneresponse.

The HER-2/neu PD is 268 amino acids in length, is intracellular, and canbe phosphorylated by protein tyrosine kinases. The region shares noidentity with the corresponding part of other tyrosine kinase receptors.Thus, the specificity and uniqueness of this domain makes itparticularly preferred for use as a tumour vaccine. However, theexpression of this domain alone in bacterial and mammalian cells isproblematic. For example, the resultant PD protein is very labile and isnot appropriate for large scale production. In one embodiment, thisinvention thus preferably utilises a fusion comprising all or part ofthe intracellular domain or the phosphorylation domain to all or part ofthe HER-2/neu extracellular domain. The ECD-ICD fusion proteins and theECD-PD fusion proteins of the invention are soluble, are secreted andare stable in culture media.

The vaccines of the invention will be useful against any cancercharacterised by tumour associated antigen expression, such as HER-2/neuexpression. In addition to allowing increased expression of theintracellular domain or phosphorylation domain, or variants thereof, asa fusion protein with the extracelluar domain or its variants, theECD-ICD and ECD-PD fusion proteins provide for an improved vaccineformulation.

The formulations may contain antigens associated with tumour-supportmechanisms (e.g. angiogenesis, tumour invasion) for example tie 2, VEGF

Accordingly the present invention provides in an embodiment, a vaccineformulation comprising an adjuvant composition, said adjuvant comprisinga saponin and a immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and a tumourassociated or tissue specific antigen. In a preferred embodiment, theadjuvant additionally comprises a lipopolysaccharide.

It is foreseen that compositions of the present invention will be usedto formulate vaccines containing antigens derived from Borrelia sp. Forexample, antigens may include nucleic acid, pathogen derived antigen orantigenic preparations, recombinantly produced protein or peptides, andchimeric fusion proteins. In particular the antigen is OspA. The OspAmay be a full mature protein in a lipidated form virtue of the host cell(E. Coli) termed (Lipo-OspA) or a non-lipidated derivative. Suchnon-lipidated derivatives include the non-lipidated NS1-OspA fusionprotein which has the first 81 N-terminal amino acids of thenon-structural protein (NS1) of the influenza virus, and the completeOspA protein, and another, MDP-OspA is a non-lipidated form of OspAcarrying 3 additional N-terminal amino acids.

Vaccines of the present invention may be used for the prophylaxis ortherapy of allergy. Such vaccines would comprise allergen specific (forexample Der p1) and allergen non-specific antigens (for example peptidesderived from human IgE, including but not restricted to the stanworthdecapeptide (EP 0 477 231 B1)).

Vaccines of the present invention may also be used for the prophylaxisor therapy of chronic disorders others than allergy, cancer orinfectious diseases. Such chronic disorders are diseases such asatherosclerosis, and Alzheimer.

Antigens relevant for the prophylaxis and the therapy of patientssusceptible to or suffering from Alzheimer neurodegenerative diseaseare, in particular, the N terminal 39-43 amino acid fragment (Aβ) of theamyloid precursor protein and smaller fragments. This antigen isdisclosed in the International Patent Application No. WO99/27944—(Athena Neurosciences).

The amount of protein in each vaccine dose is selected as an amountwhich induces an immunoprotective response without significant, adverseside effects in typical vaccinees. Such amount will vary depending uponwhich specific immunogen is employed and how it is presented. Generally,it is expected that each dose will comprise 1-1000 μg of protein,preferably 1-500 μg, preferably 1-100 μg, most preferably 1 to 50 μg. Anoptimal amount for a particular vaccine can be ascertained by standardstudies involving observation of appropriate immune responses invaccinated subjects. Following an initial vaccination, subjects mayreceive one or several booster immunisation adequately spaced. Such avaccine formulation may be applied to a mucosal surface of a mammal ineither a priming or boosting vaccination regime; or alternatively beadministered systemically, for example via the transdermal, subcutaneousor intramuscular routes.

The amount of CpG or immunostimulatory oligonucleotides in the adjuvantsor vaccines of the present invention is generally small, but dependingon the vaccine formulation may be in the region of 1-1000 μg per dose,preferably 1-500 μg per dose, and more preferably between 1 to 100 μgper dose.

The amount of saponin for use in the adjuvants of the present inventionmay be in the region of 1-1000 μg per dose, preferably 1-500 μg perdose, more preferably 1-250 μg per dose, and most preferably between 1to 100 μg per dose. The ratio of CpG:saponin (w/w) will, therefore, bein the range of 1:1000 to 1000:1, and will typically be in the range of1:100 to 100:1, and preferably in the range of 1:10 to 1:1 or 1:1 to10:1, and most preferably 1:1, 4:1 or 10:1.

The formulations of the present invention maybe used for bothprophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Accordingly, there is providedthe use of a combination of a saponin and a CpG molecule in themanufacture of a vaccine for the prophylaxis and the treatment of viral,bacterial, parasitic infections, allergy, cancer and other non-chronicdisorders. Accordingly, the present invention provides for a method oftreating a mammal susceptible to or suffering from an infectious diseaseor cancer, or allergy, or autoimmune disease. In a further aspect of thepresent invention there is provided a vaccine or adjuvant combination,comprising a saponin and CpG, as herein described for use as amedicament. Vaccine preparation is generally described in New Trends andDevelopments in Vaccines, edited by Voller et al., University ParkPress, Baltimore, Md., U.S.A. 1978.

It is foreseen that compositions of the present invention will be usedto formulate vaccines containing antigens derived from a wide variety ofsources. For example, antigens may include human, bacterial, or viralnucleic acid, pathogen derived antigen or antigenic preparations, tumourderived antigen or antigenic preparations, host-derived antigens,including peptides derived from IgE, such as the histamine releasingdecapeptide of IgE (known as the Stanworth decapeptide), recombinantlyproduced protein or peptides, and chimeric fusion proteins.

There is provided by the present invention a systemic vaccinecomposition comprising an antigen, a saponin and an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide. Accordingly, there is provided a method of treatment ofan individual susceptible to or suffering from a disease by theadministration of a composition as substantially described hereinthrough the systemic route of said individual. Also provided is a methodto prevent an individual from contracting a disease selected from thegroup comprising infectious bacterial and viral diseases, parasiticdiseases, prostate, breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, renal, ovarianor melanoma cancers; non-cancer chronic disorders, allergy, Alzheimer,atherosclerosis, comprising the administration of a composition assubstantially described herein through the systemic route of saidindividual.

Alternatively, there is provided by the present invention a mucosalvaccine composition comprising an antigen, and a haemolytic saponin.Accordingly, there is provided a method of treatment of an individualsusceptible to or suffering from a disease by the administration of acomposition as substantially herein described to a mucosal surface ofsaid individual.

Furthermore, there is described a method of inducing a systemic antigenspecific immune response in a mammal, comprising administering to amucosal surface of said mammal a composition comprising an antigen and ahaemolytic saponin. Further there is provided a method of manufacture ofa vaccine or adjuvant are also provided, comprising taking a saponin andtaking a CpG molecule and admixing them with an antigen.

Examples of suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients for use inthe combinations of the present invention include water, phosphatebuffered saline, isotonic buffer solutions.

FIGURE LEGENDS

FIG. 1: OspA specific IgG titres 14 days after the nasal boosting.

FIG. 2: OspA specific LA2 titres 14 days after the nasal boosting.

FIG. 3: serum Flu strain specific IgG titres 14 days after the nasalboosting.

FIG. 4: serum Flu strain specific serum HemAgglutination Inhibition(HAI) titres 14 days after the nasal boosting.

FIG. 5: OspA specific LA2 titres in mice

FIG. 6: gp120-specific lymphoproliferation activity of spleen cells fromimmunized mice. The antigen-specific activity is expressed as SI fordifferent antigen concentrations for all 4 experimental groups.

FIG. 7: HBsAg-specific CTL activity of spleen cells from immunized mice.Effector cell activity was assessed by examining ⁵¹Cr release of P815cells (open circles) or s-transfected P815 cells (closed circles).

FIG. 8: HBsAg-specific antibody responses in immunized mice. Specificantibody titers (expressed as EU/ml) and isotype profiles were evaluatedusing ELISA tests. Values from pooled sera are shown in the table, andisotype distributions are also depicted in a graphic.

FIG. 9: HBSAg- and gp120-specific lymphoproliferation activity of spleencells from immunized mice. The antigen-specific activity is expressed asSI for different antigen concentrations for all 4 experimental groups.

FIG. 10: HBsAg- and gp120-specific CTL activity of spleen cells fromimmunized mice. Effector cell activity was assessed by examining ⁵¹Crrelease of control P815 cells (open symbols) or P815 cells displaying anHBsAg or gp120 CTL epitope (closed symbols).

FIG. 11: Gp120-specific and HbsAg-specific antibody responses inimmunized mice. Specific antibody titers (expressed in μg/ml) (FIG. 11A)and isotype profiles were evaluated using ELISA tests. Values frompooled sera are shown in the table, and isotype distributions are alsodepicted in a graphic. FIG. 11B shows the isotype pattern ofgp120-specific antibodies.

FIG. 12: Evolution of the mean tumour growth per groups of 10 animalsover time.

The present invention is illustrated by, but not restricted to, thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLE 1 The Use of QS21 and CpG for the Intranasal Boosting ofSystemic Antibodies to Lipo-OspA

In this example we investigated whether lytic saponins such as QS21 andimmunostimulants such as CpG were able to enhance in a synergisticfashion systemic immunological responses to an intranasal boostingvaccination of mice. Female Balb/c mice (5 animals per group), aged 8weeks, were immunized intramuscularly with lipo-OspA (1 μg) formulatedonto alum (50 μg). After 3 months, the mice were boosted intranasally(under anesthesia) with 10 μl of solution (5 μl per nostril, deliveredas droplets by pipette) containing 5 μg lipo-OspA in either A: PBS; B:20 μg CpG 1001 (TCC ATG AGC TTC CTG ACG TT, Krieg 1826); C: 5 μg QS21(obtained from Cambridge Biotech, USA); D: 20 μg CpG 1001+5 μg QS21; or,E: by intra muscular injection of 1 μg lipo-OspA adsorbed onto alum (50μg). FIGS. 1 and 2 show the OspA specific IgG titres and LA2 titres 14days after the nasal boosting.

Methods ELISA for the Measurement of OspA-Specific Serum IgG in Mice

Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4° C. with 50 μl/wellof 1 μg/ml OspA diluted in PBS (in rows B to H of plate), or with 50 μlof 5 μg/ml purified goat anti-mouse Ig (Boerhinger), in PBS (row A).Free sites on the plates are blocked (1 hour, 37° C.) using saturationbuffer: PBS containing 1% BSA, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate(TWEEN 20), and 4% Normal Bovine Serum (NBS). Then, serial 2-folddilutions of IgG isotype mixture, diluted in saturation buffer (50 μlper well) and added as a standard curve (mixture of mouse monoclonalantibodies IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b from Sigma, starting at 200 ng/ml andput in row A), and serum samples (starting at a 1/100 dilution and putin rows B to H) are incubated for 1 hr 30 mins at 37° C. The plates arethen washed (×3) with washing buffer (PBS, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitanmonolaurate (TWEEN 20)). Then, biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG(Amersham) diluted 1/5000 in saturation buffer are incubated (50μl/well) for 1 hr 30 mins, at 37° C. After 3 washings, and subsequentaddition of streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Amersham),plates are washed 5 times and incubated for 20 min at room temperaturewith 50 μl/well of revelation buffer (OPDA 0.4 mg/ml (Sigma) and H₂O₂0.03% in 50 mM pH 4.5 citrate buffer). Revelation is stopped by adding50 μl/well H₂SO₄ 2N. Optical densities are read at 492 and 630 nm byusing Biorad 3550 immunoreader. Antibody titers are calculated by the 4parameter mathematical method using SoftMaxPro software.

Inhibition Assay for the Measurement of Serum LA2-Like Antibody Titresto Lipo-OspA

Antibody titres in the vaccinees were studied with respect to theirLA2-like specificity. LA2 is a murine monoclonal antibody whichrecognizes a conformational OspA epitope at the surface of the bacteriaand has been shown to be able to kill B. burgdorferi in vitro, as wellas to protect mice against a challenge with laboratory-grown spirochete(Schaible U E et al. 1990. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:3768-3772).Moreover, LA-2 mab has been shown to correlate with bactericidalantibodies, and studies on human sera showed also a good correlationbetween the total anti-OspA IgG titers and the LA-2 titers (as measuredby ELISA).

Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4° C. with 50 μl/wellof 0.5 μg/ml lipo OspA diluted in PBS. Free sites were blocked withsaturation buffer for 1 hr at 37° C. with (100 μl/well of saturationbuffer: PBS/BSA 1%/Tween 20 0.1%/NBS 4%). Serial 2-fold dilutions of LA2monoclonal Ab (mAb) starting at 4 μg/ml were diluted in saturationbuffer (50 μl per well) to form a standard curve. Dilutions of serumsamples from the vaccinees (starting at a 1/10 dilution) were also addedand the plates incubated for 2 hrs at 37° C. The plates were washedafter incubation 3 times with PBS/TWEEN 20 (0.1%). LA2 mAb-peroxidaseconjugate (1/10,000) diluted in saturation buffer was added to each well(50 μl/well) and incubated for 1 hr at 37° C. After 5 washings, platesare incubated for 20 min at room temperature (in darkness) with 50μl/well of revelation buffer (OPDA 0.4 mg/ml and H₂O₂ 0.03% in 50 mM pH4.5 citrate buffer). The reaction and colour formation was stopped withH₂SO₄ 2N. Optical densities are read at 492 and 630 nm by using Biorad3550 immunoreader. LA2-like Ab titers are calculated by the 4 parametermathematical method using SoftMaxPro software. LA2-like antibody titreswere determined by comparison with the standard curve.

Results

CpG as well as QS21 improve significantly the intranasal boosting ofsystemic antibodies to Lipo-OspA. Moreover, when both adjuvants arecombined, a synergistic effect on those responses is clearlydemonstrated, especially in term of LA2 antibodies. Humoral responseselicited in the presence of QS21 and CpG are significantly higher thanthose induced by the parenteral booster. Taken together, these resultsshow clearly the potential of intranasal formulations combining a lyticsaponin and an immunostimulant.

EXAMPLE 2 Synergistic Combination of QS21 and CpG for Enhancing theIntranasal Boosting of Systemic Antibodies to Influenza Virus

In this example we investigated whether haemolytic saponins such as QS21(see example) and immunostimulants such as CpG were able to enhance in asynergistic fashion the intranasal boost of systemic antibodies in miceprimed intranasally with inactivated whole influenza virus.

Female Balb/c mice (10 animals per group), aged 8 weeks, were primedintranasally with β-propiolactone inactivated trivalent whole influenzavirus (A/Beijing/262/95; A/Johannesburg/33/94; B/Panama/45/90; 5 μgHA/strain) for mimicking the natural priming occurring in humans. After28 days, the mice were boosted intranasally (under anesthesia) with 20μl of solution (10 μl per nostril, delivered as droplets by pipette)containing 1.5 μg HA/strain of β-propiolactone inactivated trivalentwhole influenza virus (same strains as in the priming immunization) ineither A: PBS; B: 50 μg CpG (TCG TCG TTT TGT CGT TTT GTC GTT, Krieg2006); C, 4.5 μg QS21 (obtained from Cambridge Biotech, USA); D: 50 μgCpG+4.5 μg QS21; or, E: by intra muscular injection of 1.5 μg HA/strainof trivalent split influenza virus (same strains as in the primingimmunization). Flu antigens were supplied by SSD GmBH manufacturer(Dresden, Germany).

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the serum Flu strain specific IgG titres andHemAgglutination Inhibition (HAI) titres 14 days after the nasalboosting.

Methods ELISA for the Measurement of Anti-Influenza IgG Titres in Mice:

Maxisorp Nunc immunoplates are coated overnight at 4° C. with 50 μl/wellof 1 μg/ml whole influenza virus antigen diluted in PBS (in rows B to Hof plate), or with 50 μl of 5 μg/ml purified goat anti-mouse Ig(Boerhinger), in PBS (row A). Free sites on the plates are blocked (1hour, 37° C.) using saturation buffer: PBS containing 1% BSA, 0.1%polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20), and 4% Normal BovineSerum (NBS). Then, serial 2-fold dilutions of IgG isotype mixture,diluted in saturation buffer (50 μl per well) and added as a standardcurve (mixture of mouse monoclonal antibodies IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b fromSigma, starting at 200 ng/ml and put in row A), and serum samples(starting at a 1/100 dilution and put in rows B to H) are incubated for1 hr 30 mins at 37° C. The plates are then washed (×3) with washingbuffer (PBS, 0.1% polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20)).Then, biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG (Amersham) diluted 1/5000 insaturation buffer are incubated (50 μl/well) for 1 hr 30 mins, at 37° C.After 3 washings, and subsequent addition of streptavidin-horseradishperoxidase conjugate (Amersham), plates are washed 5 times and incubatedfor 20 min at room temperature with 50 μl/well of revelation buffer(OPDA 0.4 mg/ml (Sigma) and H₂O₂ 0.03% in 50 mM pH 4.5 citrate buffer).Revelation is stopped by adding 50 μl/well H₂SO₄ 2N. Optical densitiesare read at 492 and 630 nm by using Biorad 3550 immunoreader. Antibodytiters are calculated by the 4 parameter mathematical method usingSoftMaxPro software. The Whole influenza virus used for the coating(strain A/Beijing/262/95), inactivated with □-propiolactone (BPL), issupplied by SSD GmBH manufacturer (Dresden, Germany).

HemAgglutination Inhibition (HAI) Activity of Flu-Specific Serum Abs inMice

Sera (25 μl) are first treated for 20 minutes at room temperature (RT)with 100 μl borate 0.5M buffer (pH 9) and 125 μl Dade Behring-purchasedkaolin. After centrifugation (30 minutes, 3000 RPM or 860 g), 100 μlsupernatant (corresponding to a 1/10 dilution of the serum) are takenand incubated for 1 hour at 4° C. with 0.5% chicken red blood cells.Supernatant is collected after centrifugation for 10 minutes at 3200 RPM(970 g). Both operations are done for eliminating the naturalhemagglutinating factors contained in the sera. Then, 25 μl treated-seraare diluted in 25 μl PBS (serial 2-fold dilutions starting at 1/20) in96 well Greiner plates. BPL inactivated whole virus is added (25μl/well) at a concentration of 4 Hemagglutination Units (i.e. at adilution which is 4-fold lower than the last one provoking anagglutination of red blood cells) for 30 minutes at RT under agitation.Chicken red blood cells are then added (25 μl/well) for 1 hour at RT.Plates are finally kept overnight at 4° C. before to be read. The HAItiter corresponds to the last serum dilution inhibiting thevirus-induced hemagglutination.

Results

CpG as well as QS21 do not improve the intranasal boosting of IgG or HAIantibodies to Flu strains. However, when both adjuvants are combined, asynergistic effect on those responses is clearly demonstrated. The HAIresponses elicited in the presence of QS21 and CpG are even similar thanthose induced by the parenteral booster. These results confirm thepotential of intranasal formulations combining a haemolytic saponin andan immunostimulant. They also show that several CpG sequences can beefficient in this context (Krieg 2006 in the present example and Krieg1826 in the examples 3 and 5).

EXAMPLE 3 Synergistic Combination of □-Escin and CpG for Enhancing theIntranasal Boosting of Systemic Antibodies to Lipo-OspA

We assess in the present example the possibility that a synergy similarto that observed between QS21 and CpG could be obtained with otherhaemolytic saponins (see example) such as □-Escin. The non haemolyticsaponin, glycyrrhizic acid, is also tested.

Female Balb/c mice (6 animals per group), aged 8 weeks, were primedintramuscularly with lipo-OspA (1 μg) formulated onto alum (50 μg).After 3 months, the mice were boosted intranasally (under anesthesia)with 10 μl of solution (5 μl per nostril, delivered as droplets bypipette) containing 5 μg lipo-OspA in either A: PBS; B: 50 μg CpG 1001(TCC ATG AGC TTC CTG ACG TT, Krieg 1826); C: 5 μg Escin (purchased fromSigma); D: 50 μg CpG 1001+5 μg β-Escin; E: 5 μg glycyrrhizic acid(purchased from Sigma); F: 50 μg CpG 1001+5 μg glycyrrhizic acid or, G:by intra muscular injection of 1 μg lipo-OspA adsorbed onto alum (50μg). FIG. 5 shows the OspA specific-LA2 titres 14 days after the nasalboosting.

Methods

The methods are the same as those detailed in Example 1.

Results

β-Escin and CpG act synergistically for enhancing the intranasalboosting of systemic LA2 Abs. This combination elicits more elevated Abresponses than the parenteral booster. On the other hand, such a synergyis not obtained by combining CpG with glycyrrhizic acid.

These results and the previous ones of this patent taken together showthe ability of CpG and different haemolytic saponins to adjuvant immuneresponses in a synergistic fashion.

EXAMPLE 4 Immunogenicity Studies Using P. falciparum RTS,S and HIV-1gp120 Formulated with CpG and/or DQS21 1. Experiment Outline

Two mouse immunogenicity studies were conducted to evaluate potentialadditive or synergistic effects of CpG oligonucleotides (CpG) and QS21.Groups of mice were immunized with RTS,S and gp120 formulated with CpGand QS21 alone or in combination. These adjuvant combinations were alsotested in the presence of the carrier Al(OH)₃ or an oil-in-water (o/w)emulsion.

The immunogenicity of the formulations was examined after two parenteralimmunizations. Sera were analyzed for the presence of antigen-specificantibodies, and for the distribution of antibody isotypes. Spleen cellswere used to evaluate cell-mediated immune responses. Those cells weretested for the presence of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) andlymphoproliferative (lymphoproliferation) cells.

TABLE 1 Groups of mice in experiment 1 Group antigen adjuvant 1 RTS,S/gp120 CpG/DQS21 2 RTS, S/gp120 DQS21 3 RTS, S/gp120 CpG/DQS21/Al(OH)₃4 RTS, S/gp120 CpG/Al(OH)₃

TABLE 2 Groups of mice in experiment 2 Group antigen adjuvant 1 RTS,S/gp120 CpG 2 RTS, S/gp120 CpG/DQS21 3 RTS, S/gp120 CpG/QS21/o/wemulsion

2. Formulation 2.1. Experiment 1 Formulation Process:

Formulations were prepared three days before each injection. Whenneeded, RTS,S (10 μg) and gp120 (10 μg) were adsorbed on 100 μg ofAL(OH)₃. When needed, MPL (5 μg) was added and incubated 30 min beforebuffer addition as a mix of 10-fold concentrated PBS pH 7.4 and H₂Oexcepted for the group without DQ for which the buffer was PO₄, NaCl10/150 pH 6.8. After 30 min, if needed, QS21 (5 μg) mixed with liposomesin a weight ratio QS21/cholesterol of 1/5 (referred to as DQ) was addedto the formulation. Thirty minutes later, for the formulations with theoligo, 100 μg of CpG was added 30 min prior addition of 50 μg/ml ofthiomersal as preservative.

Al(OH)₃ + RTSS + gpl 20 − 1  h − MPL − 30  min  − premix − 30  min  − DQ − 30  min  − CpG − 30  min  − Thio

All incubations were carried out at room temperature with agitation.

2.2. Experiment 2 Formulation Process:

Formulations are performed simultaneously for both injections. Thevolume of injection for one mouse is 100 μl. Fifty pg/ml of thiomersalis added as preservative.

Group 1: RTS,S (10 μg) and gp120 (10 μg) are diluted with H₂O and PBS pH6.8 for isotonicity. After 5 min., the formulation is adsorbed on CpG1856 (100 μg).

Group 2: RTS,S (10 μg) and gp120 (10 μg) are diluted with H₂O and PBS pH7.4 for isotonicity. After 30 minutes RTS,S and gp120 are adsorbed on DQ(5 μg). After 30 min. of adsorption, the formulation is adsorbed on CpG1856 (100 μg).

Group 3: RTS,S (10 μg) and gp120 (10 μg) are diluted with H₂O and PBS pH6.8 for isotonicity. After 5 min., the formulation is adsorbed on an o/wemulsion. After 5 min. of adsorption, the formulation is adsorbed onQS21 (5 μg) prior the addition of CpG (100 μg).

3. Immunological Methods

Nine (Balb/C×C57Bl/6) F1 mice per group received into the hind footpads2×50 μl vaccine twice at a two-week-interval. Two weeks later sera wereobtained to assess antibody responses, and spleen cells were harvestedto determine cell-mediated immune responses.

For lymphoproliferation analysis, cells were seeded in quadruplicates in96-well round-bottomed microtiter plates at a concentration of 2×10⁶ perml. Cells were cultured for 72 or 96 hrs in RPMI-1640 supplemented withantibiotics, glutamine and 1% (v/v) normal mouse serum in the presenceof different concentrations of RTS,S or gp120 antigen. Control cellswere cultured without antigen. Then the cells were pulsed overnight with1 μCi/well [³H]-thymidine, harvested and the incorporated radioactivitywas determined in a beta-counter. Results are expressed as mean countsper minute (cpm).

For CTL analysis cells were cultured for 7 days in 6-well plates in thepresence of 10 μg per ml of synthetic peptide pCMI003 (IPQSLDSWWTSL)corresponding to an HBsAg CTL epitope (Schirmbeck et al., 1995) orpeptide pCMI007 (GIHIGPGRAFYAARK) representing an gp120 CTL epitope(Casement et al., 1995). At the end of the culture period effector cellswere assessed in duplicate for HBsAg-specific cytolytic activity instandard [⁵¹Cr]-release assays using control and S-transfected P815cells. Gp120-specific cytotoxicity was determined by using P815 targetcells that were either left untreated or pulsed for 1 hr with peptidepCMI007. Minimum and maximum release were determined with target cellswithout effector cells and by the addition of 3% (v/v) Triton X-100,respectively. Results are expressed as % [51Cr]-release (cpm ofexperimental culture−cpm of spontaneous release/cpm of maximumrelease−cpm of spontaneous release).

Titration and isotyping of pooled sera was performed in a standardenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format using plates coatedwith HbsAg. Sera were diluted in PBS/BSA starting at 1:400. Biotinylatedsecondary antibodies specific for Ig or the isotypes IgG1, IgG2a andIgG2b followed by a horseradish peroxydase-streptavidin conjugate wereused for detection of bound antibodies. ELISA titers were calculatedfrom a reference by SoftmaxPro and expressed in ELISA units (EU/ml).Gp120-specific antibody titers were determined in a standard ELISA usingplates coated with gp120 protein. Sera were diluted in PBS/Tween20/BSAstarting at 1:100. Biotinylated secondary antibodies specific for Ig orthe isotypes IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b followed by a horseradishperoxydase-streptavidin conjugate were used for detection of boundantibodies. Titers were calculated in relative to a standard mouse Igand expressed as μg/ml.

4. Results Experiment 1

Analysis of lymphoproliferation responses did not show any significantdifferences in reactivity to RTS,S between the groups. In contrast, thegroups 1 and 3 containing both, CpG and DQS21, showed bettergp120-specific Lymphoprolypheration responses than the groups containingCpG or DQS21 alone (FIG. 6).

In this experiment only HBsAg-specific CTL were measured. There was nopronounced difference in CTL induction between the groups 1 and 3 havingreceived CpG and DQS21 in combination and the groups 2 and 4 immunizedwith only one of the two adjuvant components, while the presence ofAl(OH)₃ diminished the CTL activity observed for the combination of CpGand DQS21 in group 1 (FIG. 7). However, a trend was present that CpG andDQS21 was better than DQS21 alone, and the combination induced more CTLin the presence of Al(OH)₃ than CpG alone (FIG. 7).

The humoral immune response of the mice was examined only for thepresence of HBsAg-specific antibodies. Titers were similar in all groupsexpect for group 3, which showed an approximately three-fold increase,demonstrating that, in the presence of Al(OH)₃, the combination of DQS21and CpG is more immunogenic than CpG alone (FIG. 8). The isotypedistribution was similar for the Al(OH)₃-containing groups 3 and 4,while in the absence of Al(OH)₃ the combination of CpG and DQS21 induceda stronger T_(H1)-like isotype pattern than DQS21 alone (FIG. 8).

Experiment 2

Lymphoproliferation responses specific for RTS,S and gp120 were verysimilar in this experiment. The data indicate that the addition of DQS21(either alone or with an o/w emulsion) enhances lymphoproliferationresponses to both antigens (FIG. 9).

CTL responses were evaluated by using both, an HBsAg and a gp120 CTLepitope peptide. In both cases, CTL could be detected after immunizationof group 1 with CpG alone (FIG. 10). However, addition of DQS21 resultedin a considerable increase in CTL for both antigens (FIG. 10). Thepresence of an o/w emulsion either neutralized the positive effect ofDQS21 (gp120) or increased the background of the in vitro assay (HBsAg).

Antibody responses to HBsAg and gp120 increased by addition of DQS21 tothe CpG adjuvant (FIG. 11A). A further increase was observed when an o/wemulsion was included in the formulation (FIG. 11A). Addition of DQS21to CpG shifted the gp120 isotype profiles towards a more pronouncedT_(H1) bias (FIG. 11B), while the impact on the HBsAg isotype profileswas less pronounced in this experiment.

5. Conclusions

Immunization with RTS,S and gp120 formulated with the combination of CpGand DQS21 results in strong antigen-specific immune responses. Thecombination of the adjuvant components CpG and DQS21

-   -   enhances lymphoproliferation responses    -   increases CTL activity    -   augments antibody titers and T_(H1) isotype patterns as compared        to the single components.

EXAMPLE 5 Therapeutic Potential of CpG and/or DQS21 Formulations in TC1Tumour Model 1. Experimental Design

Four groups of 10 mice C57bl/6 received 10e6 (200 μl) TC1 cells (E7expressing tumour cells) subcutaneous at day 0 in the flank.

Mice were then vaccinated twice at day 14 and 21 after the tumourchallenge, with 5 μg of formulated PD1/3E7 HPV16 injected intra-footpad.Tumour growth was measured individually twice a week.

Groups of Mice:

1. No vaccine

2. PD1/3E7+CPG (10 μg ODN 2006) 3. PD1/3E7+DQS21 (0.5 μg) 4. PD1/3E7+CPG+DQS21

The tumour growth was monitored by measuring individual tumours, twice aweek.

2. Formulations

Formulations were performed the days of injections. The volume ofinjection for one mouse was 100 μl. When needed, PD1/3E7 (5 μg) wasdiluted with H₂O and PBS pH 7.4 for isotonicity. After 5 min., if neededQS21 (0.5 μg) mixed with liposomes in a weight ratio QS21/cholesterol of1/5 (referred to as DQ) was added to the formulation. 30 min later, forthe formulation with the oligo, 10 μg of CpG (ODN 2006) was added 30 minprior addition of 1 μg/ml of thiomersal as preservative.

H₂O + PBS  pH  7.4 + PD 1/3 E 7−_(5  min )+DQ−_(30  min )+CpG−_(30  min )−Thio

3. Results

The evolution of the mean tumour growth per groups of 10 animals overtime is shown in FIG. 12. 100% of the animals that received a tumourchallenge of 10e6 TC1 cells progressively developed growing tumour.

70-80% of the non vaccinated animals or of the animals vaccinated withthe E7 protein in DQS21 died by day 35.

Two vaccinations with the E7 protein formulated in DQS21 had almost noeffect on tumour growth. On the contrary, 2 vaccinations, IFP (day 14,21) with 5 μg ProtD 1/3 E7 HPV16 in CPG adjuvant induced the regressionof these pre-established tumours and protect mice from dying: 70-80% ofthe mice were still alive at day 35.

The combination of the 2 immunostimulants CPG and DQS21 showed a slightbeneficial effect over the CpG used alone.

EXAMPLE 6

-   -   ECD-PD was produced in CHO cells according to the methods of WO        00/44899. The formulations were tested in mice and rabbits.    -   Formulations were compared against a number of controls.

SBAS+SBAS7:

ECD-PD formulated with CpG oligonucleotide 2006 3D-MPL, QS21 in an oilin water emulsion in liposomes.

SBAS1 Formulation

Comprising QS21 in liposomes and 3D-MPL associated with the liposomeswere prepared according to the procedures of EP 0822831.

SBAS1+SBAS7 Formulation

To the formulation above CpG oligonucleotide 2006 was added. The antigenwas admixed to the adjuvant formulation prior to use.

SBAS7+SBAS2-Based Formulations (Mice)

For one dose of 50 μl of vaccine, the ECD-PD protein (25 μg) was dilutedin 10 fold concentrated PBS pH 6.8 and H2O before consecutive additionof an oil in water emulsion comprising SB62: which is prepared by andcomprises 5% squalene 5% tocopherol 2.0% tween 80; the particle size was180 nm

Preparation of Emulsion SB62 (2 Fold Concentrate)

Tween 80 is dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to give a 2%solution in the PBS. To provide 100 ml two fold concentrate emulsion 5 gof DL alpha tocopherol and 5 ml of squalene are vortexed to mixthoroughly. 90 ml of PBS/Tween solution is added and mixed thoroughly.The resulting emulsion is then passed through a syringe and finallymicrofluidised by using an M11OS microfluidics machine. The resultingoil droplets have a size of approximately 180 nm, 3D-MPL (10 μg), QS21(10 μg). 50 μg CpG ODN 2006 were then added followed, 30 minute later bythe addition of 50 μg/ml thiomersal as preservative. All incubationswere carried out at room temperature with agitation.

SBAS 2 formulations were prepared as above, but without the addition ofthe CpG oligonucleotide.

SBAS7 is CpG oligonucleotide 2006

SBAS7+SBAS2-Based Formulations (Rabbit)

For one dose of 500 μl of vaccine, the ECD-PD protein (100 μg) wasdiluted in 10 fold concentrated PBS pH 6.8 and H2O before consecutiveaddition of SB62 250 μl, 3D-MPL (100 μg), QS21 (100 μg) and 500 μg ofCpG ODN 2006 followed 30 minute later, by the addition of 50 μg/mlthiomersal as preservative. All incubations were carried out at roomtemperature with agitation.

Tumour Challenge Experiments

Groups of F1 (C57×Balb c) mice (8 mice/group) were injected with 1/10 ofthe human dose of ECD-PD antigen (25 μg) at days 0-14-28-42 andchallenged at day 56 with TC1 cells transduced with Her2/neu. Thechallenge does was administered (2 10e6 TC1 Her2cell) subcutaneously.

As shown in the FIG. 13 the addition of a CpG oligonucleotide to a3D-MPL/QS21 formulation synergistically enhances tumour regression.

Immunogenicity of ECD-PD in Different Adjuvants in Rabbits

6 groups of 4 rabbits were immunised at days 0, 21 and 42 respectivelywith 100 μg of ECD-PD in AS02, AS01, AS05, AS06 (CpG 2006 absorbed onalum), AS07 and AS02+AS07.

Serology was analysed 14 days post III and is graphically depicted inFIG. 14.

pre 14postIII AS02B 50 96923 AS01B 173 196637 AS5 144 76221 AS6 14274180 AS07A 480 3904 AS02B + AS07A 94 362713

Conclusion:

Post 3 injections, the antibody induction is

AS02B+AS07A>AS01B>AS02B=AS06=AS05>AS07A General Conclusion

The adjuvant tested (AS1, AS2, AS7) have similar effect. However, thecombination of AS1 and AS7 or AS2 and AS7 are more effective.

CMI is clearly shown after 4 vaccinations in these animals on the wholemolecule ECD-PD but also on each part separately (ECD and ICD).

The formulations of the present invention are very effective in inducingtumour regression.

1. An adjuvant composition comprising a saponin and an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide.
 2. An adjuvant composition according to claim 1 furthercomprising a carrier.
 3. An adjuvant composition as claimed in claim 1or 2, wherein said saponin is selected from the group comprising Quil A,or purified saponins such as QS21, QS7, QS17; β-escin, or digitonin. 4.An adjuvant composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, whereinsaid immunostimulatory oligonucleotide comprises a Purine, Purine, C, G,pyrimidine, pyrimidine sequence.
 5. An adjuvant composition as claimedin claims 1 to 4, wherein said immunostimulatory oligonucleotide isselected from the group comprising: (SEQ ID NO:1) TCC ATG ACG TTC CTGACG TT; (SEQ ID NO:2) TCT CCC AGC GTG CGC CAT; (SEQ ID NO:3) ACC GAT GACGTC GCC GGT GAC GGC ACC ACG; (SEQ ID NO:4) TCG TCG TTT TGT CGT TTT GTCGTT; (SEQ ID NO:5) TCC ATG ACG TTC CTG ATG CT.


6. An adjuvant composition according to claim 1 to 4, wherein theimmunostimulatory oligonucleotide contains at least two unmethylated CGrepeats being separated at least by 3 nucleotides.
 7. An adjuvantcomposition according to claim 6, wherein the immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide contains at least two unmethylated CG repeats beingseparated by 6 nucleotides.
 8. An adjuvant composition as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 7, wherein said carrier is a particulate carrierselected from the group comprising mineral salts, emulsions, polymers,liposomes, ISCOMs.
 9. A vaccine composition comprising an adjuvantcomposition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprisingan antigen.
 10. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 9, whereinsaid antigen is derived from an organism selected from the groupcomprising: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Varicella Zoster virus, HerpesSimplex Virus type 1, Herpes Simplex virus type 2, Humancytomegalovirus, Dengue virus, Hepatitis A, B, C or E, RespiratorySyncytial virus, human papilloma virus, Influenza virus, Hib, Meningitisvirus, Salmonella, Neisseria, Borrelia, Chlamydia, Bordetella,Streptococcus, Mycoplasma, Mycobacteria, Haemophilus, Plasmodium orToxoplasma, stanworth decapeptide; or Tumour associated antigens (TAA),MAGE, BAGE, GAGE, MUC-1, Her-2 neu, CEA, PSA, KSA, or PRAME; or a selfpeptide hormone, GnRH.
 11. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 9,wherein said antigen is derived from the group comprising (a) tumourassociated antigens PSMA, PSCA, tyrosinase, survivin, NY-ESO1, prostase,PS108, RAGE, LAGE, HAGE; (b) or the N terminal 39-43 amino acid fragment(A/□□f the amyloid precursor protein; (c) or antigens associated toatherosclerosis.
 12. A vaccine composition as claimed in claims 9 to 11wherein the vaccine is administered systemically.
 13. A vaccinecomposition as claimed in claims 9 to 11 wherein the vaccine isadministered mucosally.
 14. A vaccine composition as claimed in claim 13wherein the saponin of the adjuvant composition is haemolytic.
 15. Adelivery device pre-filled with the vaccine of claims 9 to 11, saiddevice being designed to administer the vaccine systemically.
 16. Amethod of inducing an immune response in an individual, comprising thesystemic administration of a safe and effective amount of the vaccinecomposition as claimed in claims 9 to
 11. 17. A method of treatment ofan individual susceptible to or suffering from a disease by theadministration to an individual of an effective amount of the vaccine asclaimed in any one of claims 9 to
 14. 18. A method of treatment asclaimed in claim 17, wherein the administration of the vaccine isthrough a systemic route.
 19. A method of treatment of an individualsuffering from a disease selected from the group comprising prostate,breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, renal, ovarian or melanomacancers; non-cancer chronic disorders, allergy, Alzheimer,atherosclerosis, comprising the administration of a vaccine as claimedin any one of claims 9 to
 11. 20. A method for preventing an individualsuffering from contracting a disease selected from the group comprisingprostate, breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, renal, ovarian ormelanoma cancers; non-cancer chronic disorders, allergy, Alzheimer,atherosclerosis, comprising the administration of a vaccine as claimedin any one of claims 9 to
 11. 21. A method of treatment as claimed inclaims 19 and 20, wherein the vaccine is administered via a systemicroute.
 22. A vaccine as claimed in claim 9 or 11 for use as amedicament.
 23. Use of a combination of a saponin and a CpG molecule inthe manufacture of a vaccine for the prophylaxis and the treatment ofviral, bacterial, parasitic infections, allergy, cancer or other chronicdisorders.
 24. Use of combination of a saponin, an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide and a carrier in the manufacture of a vaccine for theprophylaxis and the treatment of viral, bacterial, parasitic infections,allergy, cancer or other chronic disorders.
 25. A method of inducing asystemic antigen specific immune response in a mammal, comprisingadministering to a mucosal surface of said mammal a compositioncomprising an antigen and a haemolytic saponin and a CpG molecule. 26.Method of making an adjuvant composition comprising admixing a saponinwith an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide.
 27. Method of making anadjuvant composition comprising admixing a saponin, an immunostimulatoryoligonucleotide, and a carrier.
 28. Method of making a vaccinecomprising admixing the following (a) a saponin, (b) animmunostimulatory oligonucleotide, and (c) an antigen.
 29. Method ofmaking a vaccine comprising admixing the following (a) a saponin, (b) animmunostimulatory oligonucleotide, (c) a carrier and (d) an antigen.